VARIOUS ARTISTS / The Best of Peaceville (1996)

If you hadn't already guessed, it's a best of Peaceville label sampler.~ Being released back in 1996 means there's no Opeth, Akercocke, Katatonia or Darkthrone on the roster. It's dominated by the three biggest artists they had at that time: Anathema, My Dying Bride, and the gloomy Paradise Lost. There's one track from the short-lived Dominion, from an album I've yet to buy.
There's nothing to encourage existing fans to buy, but as a sampler and a snapshot of an important label for British metal, it's a great collection.

Songs of Note: MDB / A Sea oo Suffer In; Anathema / Lovelorn Rhapsody

4 vile acts out of 5

THE BLOOD DIVINE / Mystica (1997)

Mystica is dull, uninspired and dull. Did I mention it's dull? TBD were formed by three people who migrated from Cradle of Filth, so I expected something similar. I guess it's nice they aren't a Cradle of Filth clone, but what they gave us with this second release was a sub-par gothic rock album with elements of Cathedral. I like Cathedral. In fact, you'd make better use of your time if you went and listened to Cathedral instead, becuase they're a thousand times better than TBD.

Songs of Note: Visions in Blue; Mystica

1 dull thing out of 5